The Yaquina Bay Monster In Oregon Just Might Be The Strangest Roadside Attraction Yet

Newport is a small town nestled in Oregon's Central Coast. Its main attraction is the Yaquina Head Lighthouse, a gorgeous historical lighthouse that's the tallest in the state. But there's another attraction in this sleepy coastal town, and it's equal parts strange and sensational, with a story that will send shivers down your spine. Located in Newport's Aquarium Village, you'll come face-to-face with the Yaquina Bay Monster. Or rather, a statue of the aforementioned beast. Nessie, the Yaquina Bay Monster, just might be the strangest roadside attraction we've seen in Oregon, and today we're going to dive into the story behind this mythical creature.

Tucked away between the Coastal Mountains, Pacific Ocean, and Yaquina Bay, Newport is a coastal Oregon town that dates back to the late 1800s.

The town is best-known for the Yaquina Head Lighthouse, which overlooks the eponymous bay.

But beneath the calm, placid waters of Yaquina Bay, rumors have been swirling for decades about something nefarious and nasty, alien and otherworldly.

The Yaquina Bay Monster.

The infamous Yaquina Bay Monster is said to be a relative of an actual prehistoric beast, the aquatic Kronosaurus queenslandicus.

This gigantic marine reptile terrorized the seas near what is now Australia during the Cretaceous period, about 65 to 145 million years ago.

It had a colossal, 12-foot-long head, filled with 9-inch-long teeth.

Myths about sinister sea creatures have existed forever. Scotland's Loch Ness Monster is the most notable of these legendary cryptozoological water-dwellers.

In Oregon, the Yaquina Bay News reported in 1935 that two sea creatures, allegedly matching the description of a (very extinct) Kronosaurus, had been sighted off the coast, attacking local sea lions.

This rumor spread quickly, creating lore and legends of a "Yaquina Bay Monster" in Oregon.

And that's why, in Newport's Aquarium Village, you'll find what is perhaps the strangest roadside attraction in the state: a 25-foot-long statue of the Yaquina Bay Monster.

Originally part of a traveling indoor exhibit featuring prehistoric creatures, this notorious sea monster arrived at Aquarium Village in 1992, and hasn't left since.

To be fair, Aquarium Village is kind of a bastion of the bizarre.

Around since the 1970s, this whimsical outdoor shopping center has an offbeat sea theme, complete with pirates and other sea giants.

"Orca the Whale" is another of the center's larger-than-life residents.

And murals of mythical creatures can be found on the storefronts.

But Nessie is what ties it all together.

And while this beast is a beloved roadside attraction in town, the question still remains: is the Yaquina Bay Monster out there?

Or is this creature simply a figment of the imaginations of local fishermen?

You'll just have to visit Yaquina Bay, and see for yourself.

Have you heard about the Yaquina Bay Monster In Oregon? If so, what do you think—do you believe in this Oregon legend? Let us know in the comments below! And you want to see Nessie for yourself, visit Newport's Aquarium Village anytime during open hours and look for the 25-foot monster. It's pretty hard to miss!

If you're on a mission to see Oregon's strangest roadside attractions, you'll want to start with these eight truly bizarre places, located all around the state.